Fluid transfer apparatus and method of fluid transfer

ABSTRACT

An apparatus and method for blood dialysis. The device includes a plurality of semipermeable tubules for transporting blood therethrough. Distribution means are positioned adjacent the exterior of the tubules for admitting a dialysis solution which is passed along the outside of the tubules. The tubules are preferably arranged in a configuration such that the packing density of the tubules is between about 20% and about 50%, and preferably between about 25% and about 35%. This packing density insures adequate distribution of the dialysate solution as it is passed along the length of the tubules. The tubules may be wrapped and similarly curved; in a preferred embodiment they are spirally oriented. The configuration of the tubules allows for the movement of the tubule in a predetermined manner such that tubule masking is substantially prevented.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. Patent application Ser. No.813,455, filed July 7, 1977 which in turn is a continuation-in-part ofU.S. Patent application Ser. No. 708,074, filed July 23, 1976, both nowabandoned.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to hollow fiber tubular kidney dialyzers.

Kidney dialyzers function to remove toxic substances from the blood ofpatients suffering from renal failure. The dialyzers are fabricated withsemipermeable membranes and dialysis is accomplished by flowing bloodalong one side of the membrane and a dialysate solution along the otherside. During the dialyzing process, metabolites such as urea, uric acid,creatine, phosphorous and calcium in the blood diffuse from the blood tothe dialysate solution through the membrane due to the lowerconcentration of metabolites in the dialysate solution.

Prior hollow fiber tubular kidney dialyzers comprised a bundle ofseveral thousand individual microtubules, each consisting of asemipermeable material such as cellophane or Cuprophan®. The tubuleswere positioned in a cylindrical container and supported in a generallyparallel orientation between two support members disposed at each end ofthe container. FIG. 4 illustrates this prior dialyzer tubuleconfiguration. The blood was circulated through the tubules and thedialysate solution was circulated through the container around theoutside of the tubules. To maximize the efficiency of the dialyzer, agreat number of tubules were positioned within the container.Unfortunately, the high packing density and the randomly parallelorientation of tubules forced many tubules to mask, or come into contactwith other tubules, precluding dialysis through the contiguous surfacesand thereby reducing the efficiency of the dialyzer. Furthermore, thetubules of the dialyzer expanded and contracted with changes in ambienttemperature and humidity. The expansion of the tubules caused disruptionof their original generally parallel orientation resulting in a morerandom and disordered positioning of the tubules. In this randomorientation, there was even greater masking of the tubules which furtherreduced the efficiency of the dialyzer. Further, during operation of thedialyzer, the random orientation of the tubules caused the bunching oftubules with the accompanying formation of localized areas of low flowof dialysate solution within the dialyzer thereby even further reducingthe efficiency of the dialyzer.

An object of the present invention is to provide an improved dialyzerand method of operation. Other objects and advantages of this inventionwill become apparent on a reading of the entire specification, includingthe drawings and claims.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This invention provides an apparatus and method for blood dialysiswherein the efficiency of transfer across hollow fiber tubules isincreased due to the tubule configuration. The tubules are positioned insimilarly curved configuration in order that they will all expand andcontract in a uniform predetermined manner so as to prevent masking ofadjacent tubules. Further, the tubules have a packing density of betweenabout 20% and about 50%, and preferably between about 25% and about 35%.This increased packing density allows for more uniform distribution ofthe dialysate solution.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1 and 3 are partial cross-sectional views illustrating the deviceof this invention.

FIG. 2 is a pictorial view illustrating the device of this invention.

FIG. 4 is a schematic drawing illustrating a prior art device.

FIG. 5 is a schematic drawing illustrating the device of this invention.

FIG. 6 is a partial cross-sectional view illustrating the device of thisinvention.

FIG. 7 is a partial cross-sectional view illustrating the definition ofthe term "packing density" as used to describe the device of thisinvention.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring now to FIG. 1, the dialyzer, generally referred to as 1, andits method of operation will be discussed. The dialyzer 1 includes adialyzer housing 3 disposed about a central core 5. The core 5 has adialysate inlet 7 and a dialysate outlet 9. The dialysate inlet 7 andoutlet 9 are provided with a plurality of apertures 11 and 13,respectively, positioned adjacent a point where the dialysate inlet andoutlet about a cylindrical section 15 of the central core 5 whichprevents the dialysate flow from passing through the cylindrical portion15 of the central core 5 and forces the dialysate to flow outwardthrough apertures 11 and into apertures 13 prior to exiting the dialyzer1 at the dialysate outlet 9.

The dialyzer 1 is further defined as including a tangential blood inlet17 and a tangential blood outlet 19. A blood inlet chamber 21 is formedbetween the dialyzer cap 4, the exterior of the tubular dialysate inlet7 and a suitable potting compound 23 within which a number of hollowfiber tubules 25 are secured. Similarly, the annular blood outletchamber 27 is bounded by dialysate cap 6, the exterior of the tubularportion of the dialysate outlet 9 and potting compound 23 within whichthe tubules 25 are secured adjacent the blood outlet chamber 27.

As shown in FIG. 2, a plurality of similarly curved and spirallyoriented semipermeable hollow fiber tubules 25 are wrapped about thecentral core 5 such that Their opposed ends may be secured in an annularring of potting compound 23. The front and rear ends of the tubules 25are preferably manufactured such that they have a rounded edge in orderto prevent blood trauma upon entrance and exit from the dialyzer 1.

As the thickness of the annular ring of layers of tubules 25 increasesas the wrapping continues, tubules 25 nearer the central core 5 arespiralled more than those more toward the outside of the wrap. Thisproduces a nonparallel tubule relationship which increases flow shear asbetween adjacent layers of tubule wrap and promotes dialysatedistribution and flow about the tubules 25 and transfer across thetubules.

Dialysate outlet apertures 11 are thus positioned between a front face29 of the cylindrical portion 15 of the central core 5 and the annularring of potting compound 23. Similarly, the dialysate outlet apertures13 are positioned between a rear face 31 of the cylindrical portion 15of the central core 5 and the annular ring of potting compound 23located at the blood outlet of the tubules 25.

Preferably, a compression means such as an inner flange 33 is positionednear the juncture of the dialysate inlet apertures 11 and the centralcore cylindrical portion 15 in order to increase the packing density ofthe tubules 25 in the area of the compression means. The tubules 25 areseparated from each other and having a packing density of between about20% and about 50%, and preferably between about 25% and about 35%. Thepacking density of the tubules at the flange means 33 is greater thanthat of the packing density of the balance of the tubules' length, andmay be as high as 100%.

Referring now to FIG. 7, the term "packing density" as utilized in thisdisclosure will be explained. FIG. 7 shows a plurality of tubules 25arranged in contiguous relationship such that each tubule is touchingthe other tubules adjacent it. Such a configuration produces a number ofvoids designated as 50 in FIG. 7, due to the generally ovalconfiguration of the tubules 25. If the tubules are compressed beyondthe configuration of FIG. 7, the tubules will be deformed. Accordingly,the contiguous relationship illustrated in FIG. 7 is defined asillustrating a packing density of 100%. The packing densities referredto in this disclosure are defined relative to the 100% packing densityconfiguration shown in FIG. 7.

Referring now to FIGS. 2 and 3, the method of making such a dialyzerwill be discussed. A plurality of tubules 25 are configured in a mat orbelt 35 wherein the individual tubules 25 have fiber 37 interwovenwithin the tubules 25 in order to maintain their lateral spacing. Thebelt or mat 35 is then wrapped about the central core 5 and a cylinder39 having an external diameter approximately equal to that of thecylindrical portion 15 of the core 5. When the last layer of mat or belt35 has been wrapped about the core 5, the tubules may be held in placetemporarily by means of an adhesive strip 33. Member 39 is held in placeabout the tubular portion of the dialysate inlet by means of a keywayslot 41 which engages a key 43 along exterior of the tubular dialysateinlet 7. As shown in FIG. 3, a cap member (not shown) may then be placedabout each end of the dialyzer 1 engaging the ends of the tubules 25. Apotting compound is then inserted into and about the area surroundingthe tubules 25 between the cap member and the exterior of the tubulardialyzer inlet and outlet 7 and 9, respectively. Preferably, the pottingcompound consists of a liquid resin which sets upon exposure to airand/or heat. The dialyzer assembly 1 is then rotated about its axis inorder to urge the potting compound through centrifugal force to each endof the dialyzer assembly 1. After the potting compound is set up, theends of the assembly are partially cut as shown by line 47 in order toproduce the outward faces 49 and 51 of the annular rings of pottingcompound 23.

Referring now to FIGS. 4 and 5, the advantages of the curvedconfiguration of the tubules 25 will be discussed in detail. FIG. 4shows a number of tubules secured at each end in the configurationtypical of prior dialyzer applications. The dotted lines indicatepossible movement of the tubules upon expansion. In contrast, FIG. 5illustrates movement due to expansion, again shown as dotted lines, oftubules which are arranged in a curved configuration. As may be seen inFIG. 5, each of the tubules expands in the same direction due to thefact that the tubules are predisposed to move in such a direction bymeans of the initial curvature of the tubules. While FIGS. 4 and 5illustrate movement in two planes, it is to be understood that thespiral or helix configuration of the tubules 25 as shown in FIGS. 1 and2 produce a three-dimensional predetermined configuration and allow forthe tubules to move in expansion or contraction in a predeterminedspaced apart relationship.

While an embodiment and application of this invention have been shownand described, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art thatmodifications are possible without departing from the inventive conceptsdescribed herein. This invention, therefore, is not to be restricted orlimited save by the claims appended hereto.

What is claimed is: .[.
 1. A method of waste containing blood flowdialysis comprising:tangentially admitting blood into a dialyzer bloodinlet chamber; passing said blood from said blood inlet chamber into andthrough a plurality of similarly spirally oriented semipermeable tubulespacked between the dizlyzer housing and a central dialyzer core; passingblood wastes through the walls of said tubules into said dialysate;passing the treated blood from said tubules into a dialyzer blood outletchamber; longitudinally restraining said tubules between said dialyzerblood inlet chamber and said blood outlet chamber; tangentially removingsaid treated blood from a dialyzer blood outlet chamber; radiallydistributing a fresh dialysate about the exterior of said tubules;passing in a generally spirally manner said dialysate along the exteriorof said tubules; and radially removing said dialysate and blood wastesfrom said dialyzer..]. .[.
 2. The method claimed in claim 1 wherein saidtubules are further defined as having a packing density of between about20% and 50%..].
 3. A .[.helical flow dialyzer.]. .Iadd.fluid transferapparatus .Iaddend.comprising:a .[.dialyzer.]. housing disposed about acentral core, said core including a tubular .[.dialyzate.]. .Iadd.fluid.Iaddend.inlet and a tubular .[.dialyzate.]. .Iadd.fluid.Iaddend.outlet, both said .[.dialyzate.]. .Iadd.fluid .Iaddend.inletand outlet being provided with a plurality of apertures and being joinedby a cylindrical section of said central core for preventing.[.dialyzate.]. .Iadd.fluid .Iaddend.flow through said cylindricalportion and for forcing .[.dialyzate.]. .Iadd.fluid .Iaddend.inlet andoutlet; an annular blood inlet chamber and an annular blood outletchamber formed within said .[.dialyzer.]. housing about said tubular.[.dialyzate.]. .Iadd.fluid .Iaddend.inlet and outlet, respectively,said inlet chamber having a tangential inlet nozzle and said outletchamber having a tangential outlet nozzle; a belt made up of similarly.[.helically.]. oriented semipermeable tubules, .[.wrapped about.]..Iadd.surrounding .Iaddend.said central core, opposed ends of saidtubule belt being secured in an annular ring of potting compound formedabout a portion of said .[.dialyzate.]. .Iadd.fluid .Iaddend.inlet andoutlet such that said .[.dialysate.]. .Iadd.fluid .Iaddend.inlet andoutlet apertures are located within an enclosure formed by said.[.dialyzer.]. housing, said central core and said annular pottingrings, said annular rings forming a portion of said blood inlet andblood outlet chambers, said ends of said hollow fibers passing throughsaid annular rings for communication with said blood inlet and outletchambers; and a compression means positioned near the juncture of said.[.dialyzate.]. .Iadd.fluid .Iaddend.inlet and said central corecylindrical portion between said housing and said central core and aboutsaid tubules for increasing the packaging density of said tubules in thearea adjacent said compression means.
 4. The .[.helical flow dialyzer.]..Iadd.fluid transfer apparatus .Iaddend.claimed in claim 3 wherein saidtubules are further defined as having a packaging density of betweenabout 20% and 50%.